Danny Masterson Files Appeal to Overturn Rape Conviction

Danny Masterson isn’t backing down. The former That ’70s Show star, currently serving a 30-year sentence for two counts of forcible rape, has officially filed an appeal to overturn his 2023 conviction.

According to USA Today, Masterson’s legal team took their fight to the courts, claiming that significant flaws in the trial process demand a reevaluation of the case.

Masterson’s attorney, Cliff Gardner, didn’t hold back in the filing, pointing to two major issues. “The Appellant’s Opening Brief submitted on December 18, 2024, demonstrates two fundamental flaws in Danny Masterson’s convictions: (1) the trial was rife with erroneous judicial rulings that skewed the jury’s view of the evidence against him and (2) there was a stunning amount of exculpatory evidence which was never presented to the jury,” Gardner stated.

Gardner also revealed that the appeal is just the beginning. “Danny’s habeas lawyer will be following up on the opening brief with a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus documenting additional defects in the trial process. Stay tuned as we work toward Danny’s complete exoneration,” he added.

This legal move comes after a series of dramatic developments for Masterson. Following his conviction, his wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce—a decision that factored into his denied bail request earlier this year. While Masterson’s life has been turned upside down, his legal team is clearly committed to changing the narrative.

The road ahead remains uncertain for Masterson, but this appeal signals that the fight is far from over. Could this be the start of a major legal reversal for the actor, or will the courts stand firm on the original verdict? Only time will tell.